02 Juni 2009

The Terrex AV81 (8 × 8) Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) was developed as a private venture by Singapore Technologies Kinetics in close association with Timoney High Mobility Vehicles of Ireland.

The first prototype of the Terrex AV81 APC was completed in the facilities of Timoney Technology of Ireland, which is now partly owned by Singapore Technologies Kinetics. This was first shown in the UK late in 2001. It then underwent an extensive series of automotive and durability trials at a UK proving ground, which were completed in 2002. Feedback from the trials with this vehicle, along with customer comments, were fed into the next development stage of the Terrex AV81.

Interior of Terrex 8x8 (photo : flickr-XTemujin)

In late 2003 the first of two preproduction models of the Terrex AV81 APC was completed and the first of these made its first public appearance during the IDEF 2003 exhibition held in Ankara. The second preproduction vehicle was completed in 2004. This has enabled one AV81 to be retained in Singapore for development work, while the other is available for overseas trials and demonstrations. These two vehicles incorporate many improvements and feature a redesigned hull with a higher roofline for greater internal volume and improvements to the driveline.

8x8 system of Terrex (image : One35th)

The first example of the Terrex AV81 had independent double-wishbone suspension front and rear. The latest two preproduction vehicles feature double-wishbone suspension for the front four road wheels and MacPherson strut suspension for the rear four wheels. An Anti-Lock braking system is fitted as standard. In addition to having a greater internal volume the two latest vehicles

Description

Terrex's performance (photo : Stengg)

The hull of the Terrex AV81 is of all welded steel armour construction to which an additional layer of passive armour can be added for a higher level of protection. The floor of the Terrex AV81 is of a V shape to help deflect the blast of anti-tank mines. It has spaced armour in the floor and other parts of the hull for increased battlefield survivability.

The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left side with the power pack to his right. The driver has a single-piece hatch cover to the immediate front of which are three day periscopes, the centre one of which can be replaced by a passive periscope for driving at night. The driver can also enter the vehicle via the troop compartment to the immediate rear of his position.

Power pack of the Terrex AV81 consists of a Caterpillar C9 four-stroke turbocharged diesel engine developing 400 bhp, coupled to an Allison MD4560P fully automatic transmission. The air intake and outlet louvres are in the roof with the exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull. This power pack gives a maximum road speed of 120 km/h. A Timoney axle box is fitted and provides automatic traction control. The third example of the AV81 is powered by a 450 hp Caterpillar C-9 diesel.

Only unveiled in 2001, Singapore Technologies Kinetics' (ST Kinetics) Terrex 8x8 armoured carrier vehicle is, admittedly, a late arrival to the market place. However, according to Barnabus Tan, ST Kinetics' principal engineer on the Terrex programme, coming in late has allowed time for a review of competitors' efforts, enabling the team to pick out the positive and negative points of each. Using a judicious mix of commercial off-the-shelf and customised components, the design team's professed aim has been to be able to provide the customer with the best-value solution, though not necessarily the most sophisticated, while leaving the door open to any technology insertions needed to meet particular operational requirements.

In its current form Terrex has an empty weight of 13.5 tonnes and a gross weight limit of 24 tonnes, giving a nominal payload margin exceeding that postulated for example by market leader Mowag for growth versions of its Piranha III 8x8 (see IDR 4/2005, pp56-59).

Development of Terrex (which may be loosely translated as 'king of the terrain') began in 1999, the Singapore company working jointly with Ireland's Timoney Technology, with whom it had previously collaborated on the Bronco all-terrain tracked vehicle and whose acknowledged design strengths lie in driveline and suspension system technologies.

At that time, the pre-disposition of the then US Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki, towards wheeled vehicles as the optimum platform for its nascent medium-force 'interim brigade combat teams' (IBCTs), induced a significant tilt in the armoured fighting vehicle market, from which ST Kinetics was naturally keen to wrest its share. (The company went on to consolidate its foothold in the automotive arena by acquiring a 25 per cent stake in the Timoney holding company in 2002.)